I just contracted with Comcast. With a large household, I will have two or three HD sets and two older CRT sets. I'm trying to reduce the number of cable boxes to rent. I have a Comcast DVR/hd box in the LR. I read about using a splitter to run the signal to a separate hd tv (in my bedroom). But will we be able to simultaneously watch different channels on the two hd tvs, or will they necessarily be tuned to the same channel? Secondly, I would like to get the premium channels on the crt tvs, without renting a cable box from Comcast, or perhaps renting one box and again using a slitter. Comcast assured me, I had that option of buying a cable box and the printed information from them clearly invited me to do so, but warned me that Comcast could change their signal or protocol or some such thing, and I would be stuck with owning a piece of equipment which would not work with Comcast.

Is buying cable boxes foolhardy? Or is there another (legal) way to accomplish my goal?

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

I don't know if there's a way to get two different channels if the signal is coming from the same cable box and out to two or more TVs. Maybe if the box had two tuners, or maybe one of those "multiroom" boxes, but that's just guessing on my part.

If you can do without the premiums, a QAM tuner (either in a TV, a DVD recorder, or a standalone tuner if you can find one) will get HD channels without a box. Generally you'll be limited to local ABC/NBC/CBS/Fox affiliates, and maybe a couple others like Discovery or PBS, channels that cable companies pass along "in the clear." The others tend to be encrypted, which almost always includes premium channels.

If it's encrypted, you generally need to rent a box or a cablecard (if your TV/TiVo supports a cablecard.) I'm actually surprised that if you live in the US that Comcast said you can buy a cable box (unless they mean a TiVo or a box purchased from Canada or somewhere.) Cable boxes are not really sold in the US to the public, and those on eBay tend to be stolen from cable companies.

The only other box they may be talking about is the Motorola DCP501 cable box/receiver/DVD player, which can be privately owned and Comcast has activated for some people persistent enough to persuade them to do so.

Generally, you will have to use either a cable company-provided cable box, or CableCARDs, to access premium channels with Comcast. Tulpa mentioned the exception: the DCP501. Other than that, be sure to restrict your purchases to boxes that support CableCARD, and be prepared to pay from $1.50 to $8.00 per month to rent each CableCARD.

In General I recommend people stay away from the DCP501s

They use the same hardware as the older DCT2000s (which is very low on memory and very slow) no HD ability (without adding an special external HD tuner) and the other components (Home Theater, DVD Player) are pretty low quality... We got in a shipment of these to use as customer perks etc and most customers returned them.

In General unless it's card based, your local MSO doesn't HAVE to put it on the system, in fact they can even point to recent FCC mandates (such as the 707 mandate which forced us to migrate to card based boxes) as a reason not to allow any non-card based boxes in.

Currently there's only a handfull of card based solutions - most notibly the TIVO Series III and HD (The HD uses the Multistream cards so it's easier to set up) - the other alternative is ATI's special card based tuner cards for computers... but I've not seen those out and they require Vista.

You can probably also find DCH boxes and similar (many Canadian MSOs sell boxes online) which are card based - but with those - at least till OCAP applications are in place, you'll still need to match it to something that your system already has if you want a guide etc.

How much are they going to charge you for the additional boxes?
You can probably make a deal with them.

Outside of the Tivo with cable card slot I would stay away from purchasing other boxes.

You can probably also find DCH boxes and similar (many Canadian MSOs sell boxes online) which are card based

I'm pretty sure the Canadian cable companies aren't providing the DCH-family units, since they're not subject to the US CableCARD regs (and the CRTC hasn't had anything to say on the subject at all, far as I've heard).

Couldn't you get an HD box like a DCT-6200 on ebay and just SAY it's a DCP501? Has anyone ever tried that?

Other than that, be sure to restrict your purchases to boxes that support CableCARD, and be prepared to pay from $1.50 to $8.00 per month to rent each CableCARD.
That is not accurate, as there is no fee for CCs in this area and some others, for as many as needed, provided one is getting one CC per device. A second CC for one device costs $2 here.

Also, I don't think they can cost as much as $8. I haven't heard more than about $5 with Comcast, and even that has been rare. I would be interested to know where CCs are $8. It sounds like you are thinking of a Digital Classic Addtl. Outlet fee of $8.90, which includes a box or CC plus a mirroring fee. Even that is not necessary, as one can get a Digital Starter A/O for $4.95.

Here, the jist of it is, if the service doesn't normally doesn't include a box, the CC is really free. If it does include a box, the CC is a replacement for the box, so really one is paying the same as a box, $3.70, just that it isn't itemized. Other areas can vary, of course.

Couldn't you get an HD box like a DCT-6200 on ebay and just SAY it's a DCP501? Has anyone ever tried that?
Because when they go to activate it, the box will communicate back to them that it is a DCT-6200 along with the SN.

In General I recommend people stay away from the DCP501s
Yeah, I agree. I know other people are trying to help, but that sure is an old box; I remember hearing about that box when I first joined AVS six years ago; no reason to buy one now.

They should let you own DCH boxes, and then just rent the cable card. Wasn't that one of the major points in Separable security? Security lies in the MSO hands, and they can choose whichever conditional access provider they want.

That is not accurate, as there is no fee for CCs in this area and some othersUnlimited CableCARDs? Or just the first one (which would be consistent with what I posted originally)?

Also, I don't think they can cost as much as $8. .... It sounds like you are thinking of a Digital Classic Addtl. Outlet fee of $8.90, which includes a box or CC plus a mirroring fee.It's not really a matter of what I was thinking, other than I didn't want to say $5 per month and then have someone who pays $8.90, and considers that a CableCARD fee, get upset with my message.

They should let you own DCH boxes, and then just rent the cable card. Wasn't that one of the major points in Separable security?The point was to allow Motorola to sell DCH boxes if they want to sell them. The regulations are focused on opening up a competitive market place so other vendors can more easily enter the market place. The regulations do not force Motorola to sell DCH boxes, or any box manufacturer to enter the market, for that matter.

If consumers want Motorola to sell DCH boxes, then enough consumers have to be willing to pay enough to make it worth Motorola's while to sell and support those boxes.

Yeah, I agree. I know other people are trying to help, but that sure is an old box; I remember hearing about that box when I first joined AVS six years ago; no reason to buy one now.

Some people are insistent on owning their own box, for whatever reason, even if it is horribly obsolete. That box is about the only one you can buy and have a hope of activating with a major MSO, unless you count TiVo or something.

I personally would never buy it. I wouldn't buy wireless surround sound kits either (right now), but some people demand them.

If consumers want Motorola to sell DCH boxes, then enough consumers have to be willing to pay enough to make it worth Motorola's while to sell and support those boxes.
There are even more costs involved. They would have to package them, distribute them, and advertise them. (although the term support could be seen as including all of that, but I usually think of support as an "after the sale" expense)

Pricing is a can of worms. According to the list sent when Comcast took over Insight here locally, they can charge (not that it will actually end up this way on the actual bill) $10 (Digital Starter-SD) or $16 (Digital Premiere-SD) for each additional outlet even as they provide the CC free for the set. In other words, they can charge individually for:
Basic Service
Expanded Basic
Digital Service (Starter or Premiere)
HD Package (Digital Starter and Premiere are in SD without this)
HD Receiver ($7 for a receiver or Free for CC but you can't use the HD receiver or the CC in HD without an HD package also)
and Digital Service (Starter or Premiere) for each outlet over and above the above package and/or hardware prices.

A DVR gets even more complicated with an additional Service cost listed but not an additional equipment cost. (Intentional or an oversight?) I'm sure that most bills don't include a direct addition of all those possible add-on costs but there's no way anyone but the billing computer can figure out the final cost.

They should let you own DCH boxes, and then just rent the cable card. Wasn't that one of the major points in Separable security? Security lies in the MSO hands, and they can choose whichever conditional access provider they want.
The point was to allow Motorola to sell DCH boxes if they want to sell them. The regulations are focused on opening up a competitive market place so other vendors can more easily enter the market place. The regulations do not force Motorola to sell DCH boxes, or any box manufacturer to enter the market, for that matter.
Actually, that wasn't part of the 7/07 mandate, as many people think, that mandate was for forcing MSOs to use CC boxes for newly deployed boxes. The 7/04 mandate was the one that mandated MSOs to support third-party CC boxes and TVs, that is why the Sony DVRs (and others, IIRC) and then Tivo CC DVRs appeared soon after. If one can buy a DCH legitimately, I don't see how they wouldn't have to activate it. If Canada has the same box available, that is an option, AFAIK.

Unlimited CableCARDs? Or just the first one (which would be consistent with what I posted originally)?

It's not really a matter of what I was thinking, other than I didn't want to say $5 per month and then have someone who pays $8.90, and considers that a CableCARD fee, get upset with my message.
Second and subsequent CCs are indeed part of the A/Os, just like boxes. However, the key would be that they are substituted for the included SD box at no addtl. fee, as opposed to the HD box and HD/SD DVR, which incur upgrade fees.

As I pointed out before, the $8.90 fee is optional, and can be $4.95 instead. In this area, the latter gets all of non-local/non-premium HD on an A/O. I know other areas will vary, but they may not have the $8.90 fee, they may have a $6.95 fee instead of both fees, for instance, as some do. Another possibility is that one can get HD channels from Ltd. Basic and Premium services with a free CC.

I think the areas that charge more than $2 for a CC are itemizing all of their boxes/CC in the first place. The non-itemization of the first box in many areas, and then the upgrading of said box, is confusing to the typical customer.

There are even more costs involved. They would have to package them, distribute them, and advertise them. (although the term support could be seen as including all of that, but I usually think of support as an "after the sale" expense)

Pricing is a can of worms. According to the list sent when Comcast took over Insight here locally, they can charge (not that it will actually end up this way on the actual bill) $10 (Digital Starter-SD) or $16 (Digital Premiere-SD) for each additional outlet even as they provide the CC free for the set. In other words, they can charge individually for:
Basic Service
Expanded Basic
Digital Service (Starter or Premiere)
HD Package (Digital Starter and Premiere are in SD without this)
HD Receiver ($7 for a receiver or Free for CC but you can't use the HD receiver or the CC in HD without an HD package also)
and Digital Service (Starter or Premiere) for each outlet over and above the above package and/or hardware prices.

A DVR gets even more complicated with an additional Service cost listed but not an additional equipment cost. (Intentional or an oversight?) I'm sure that most bills don't include a direct addition of all those possible add-on costs but there's no way anyone but the billing computer can figure out the final cost.
That is definately different. It is also quite complicated, maybe even moreso than here. Although, I thought the same thing when they established the pricing structure here.

It sounds like the issue people are in effect bringing up, is that of the mirroring part, rather than the box/CC part, of the A/O fee; it certainly is too much $. The only way that will change is when OCAP is implemented through DCAS; at least I think it would have to.

If one can buy a DCH legitimately, I don't see how they wouldn't have to activate it. If Canada has the same box available, that is an option, AFAIK.

I looked at Futureshop. They only have DCT models on their online store.

As demonfoo said, Canada doesn't use cablecards, and the non-cablecard boxes are just as useless as any random box off eBay.

I'm looking to avoid the clutter of a set top box for each TV, not to mention the added cost of renting the boxes. Been following the postings on alternative boxes (Moxie, etc) which seems to be going nowhere. I wish somebody would make a real small simple box with a CC slot, an HDMI output and an RF input. Anybody know of something similar on the horizon?

Meanwhile, it seems my best hope is for the restart of Cable Card Slots in TV's. I see only a small number have them now, and I see a lot of 2006/2007 talk about CC2 TV's being available in 2008.

Any input on the status of cc slot equiped TV's? I need several smaller TV's in the 24-37" size.

It's coming back, and it's called Tru2Way. They will be able to download the guide straight into the TV. The TV will be able to do VOD, PPV, and other advanced interactive features along with getting all of your subscription. It will use the same interface as the cable box but updated graphics because the processor and memory in the TV's are much better.

http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/10/17/panasonics-tru2way-enabled-th-50pz80q-plasma-lands-in-chicago-r/

Panasonic is the only TV available right now, and only in Tru2Way equipped area's (Denver and Chicago). When each Headend is fully Tru2Way compatible, these types of TV's will start showing up in the area.

In addition to the TH-50PZ80Q, mentioned in the linked article, there is also the TH-42PZ80Q.

the Sony Kuro PDP5010FD plasma currently available at Sams club still has a cable card slot in it

That would be a Pioneer, not a Sony.